Antonia Bance
OfficeMember of Parliament
for Tipton and Wednesbury
Term start4 July 2024
PredecessorShaun Bailey
Majority3,385 (10.6%)
Office 1Member of Oxford City Council
for Rose Hill and Iffley
Term start 14 May 2006
Term end 112 March 2013[1]
Predecessor 1William Buckingham[2]
Successor 1Michele Paule[2]
Alma materUniversity of Oxford (BA)
PartyLabour Party

Antonia Kay Bance[3] is a British Labour Party politician serving as Member of Parliament for Tipton and Wednesbury since 2024.[4]

Early life and education

Bance grew up in South London.[5] She received a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Oxford[6].

Professional career

Bance has worked for YWCA[7], Oxfam[8], the Corston Independent Funders’ Coalition[9], the housing charity Shelter[1] and the domestic abuse charity SafeLives[10].

In 2015, Bance joined the Trades Union Congress, supporting General Secretaries Frances O’Grady and Paul Nowak. She was responsible for campaigns, communications and digital, and led a specific three year programme to recruit young workers to trade unions[11]. Bance held this role until her election as an MP.

Political career

Bance was the Labour Party candidate for Oxford West and Abingdon at the 2005 general election.[5][12]

She was elected to Oxford City Council in 2006, representing Rose Hill and Iffley, and re-elected in 2010.[13] She resigned from the Council in 2013 to focus on her job at Shelter.[1]

Bance supported Jon Cruddas in Labour's 2007 deputy leadership election,[14] and Ed Balls in the 2010 leadership election.[15] She supported Bridget Phillipson in the 2025 deputy leadership election.[16]

Personal life

Bance is a lesbian.[17][18] She has a daughter.[19]

References

  1. ^ Whittaker, Freddie (12 March 2013). "Antonia Bance joins Joe McManners in standing down from Oxford City Council". Oxford Mail
  2. ^ Teale, Andrew. "Rose Hill and Iffley Ward — Oxford". Local Elections Archive Project
  3. ^ "Members Sworn". Vol. 752. 10 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Tipton & Wednesbury | General Election 2024 | Sky News". election.news.sky.com. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
  5. ^ "Labour hopeful lends Kerry a hand". Oxford Mail. 25 October 2004. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  6. ^ "Labour hopeful lends Kerry a hand". Oxford Mail. 2004-10-25. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
  7. ^ "Antonia Bance | TUC". www.tuc.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
  8. ^ "Bance, Antonia Archives". Oxfam Policy & Practice. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
  9. ^ "Joint women's diversionary fund announced | Ministry of Justice". www.wired-gov.net. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
  10. ^ "SafeLives welcomes the new Government". SafeLives. 2024-07-05. Archived 2025-06-12 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
  11. ^ "Antonia Bance". PR Week Awards. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
  12. ^ "Election 2005 | Results | Oxford West & Abingdon". BBC News. 6 May 2005. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  13. ^ Rallings, Colin & Thrasher, Michael. "Oxford City Council Election Results 1973-2012". The Elections Centre
  14. ^ "The Insider: June 20, 2007". Oxford Mail. 20 June 2007. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  15. ^ Bance, Antonia (13 September 2010). "Why I'm voting for Ed Balls". LabourList. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  16. ^ Bance, Antonia (10 September 2025). "'Why we are backing Bridget Phillipson for deputy leader'". LabourList. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  17. ^ Woolcock, Nicola (22 January 2004). "'Lesbians want families just like everyone else'". The Daily Telegraph
  18. ^ Reynolds, Andrew (5 July 2024). "Number of out LGBTQ+ MPs falls following election – but Labour has a reason to be proud". PinkNews
  19. ^ Bance, Antonia (8 October 2024). "VAT: Independent Schools". Hansard